News
RDI Hub launches new early stage start up supports
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By Michelle Crean
RDI Hub in Killorglin have this week announced exciting new opportunities for startups in Kerry designed to accelerate them towards securing the first €100k investment. A new RDI Hub team will help prepare entrepreneurs for accelerator and investment under the national startup accelerator programme NDRC.
New NDRC Office Hours, Founder Weekends and a Pre-Accelerator will be delivered across Ireland by RDI Hub Kerry, Dogpatch Labs Dublin, Portershed Galway and Republic of Work Cork, with a dedicated team in each hub to deliver programmes locally.
The new support will give founders from across Ireland access to a network of globally renowned entrepreneurs, investors and mentors for feedback on their idea, advice on resources that can accelerate the growth of their startup, and a structured programme to prepare to pitch for investment or to apply to the NDRC Accelerator. The early stage programmes do not take equity in the companies, and are free for accepted teams.
One successful startup Content Llama, co-founded by Kerry women Joleen Looney, completed the NDRC accelerator programme in 2019 and is now raising funding and expanding her team. “Content Llama is at an exciting growth stage - fundraising and expanding our team. It is great to see regional support for Irish startups through NDRC now, building those connections and network at the early stages is vital for long term growth, Joleen said.
EXPANDING
The RDI Hub team is also expanding with Programme Manager Niall Larkin relocating to Kerry to take up his new role. Niall has founded several startups and worked closely with hundreds of founders, accelerating startups to scale through programmes he designed and led over the past four years at NDRC.
"The early part of the startup journey is about getting feedback on your idea, mentoring from people who know what they are talking about and surrounding yourself with other entrepreneurs. The NDRC programmes at RDI Hub gives entrepreneurs and innovators in the region access to these supports so they can go from idea to established startup quickly,” Niall said.
Programmes such as Office Hours, Founder Weekends and Pre-Accelerator will also be delivered from RDI Hub.
Office Hours help entrepreneurs take their first step through one-to-one 25 min slots with experienced NDRC Programme Managers and leaders based in each regional hub, and also gives them access to an extended one thousand plus mentor network from companies such as Google, Stripe, Facebook, Unilever, Enterprise Ireland and many others.
Founder Weekend is a chance for aspiring entrepreneurs to immerse themselves in the Irish startup community, develop their idea with expert mentors, or find that co-founder to spark a new idea with.
The Pre-Accelerator helps entrepreneurs validate their startup idea with customers, structure it to get investment, and prepare to get accepted onto the NDRC Accelerator.
Frustration mounts over morning gridlock at Coolcorcoran
Mounting traffic gridlock at the Coolcorcoran junction onto the N22 Killarney Bypass is causing daily delays for commuters, with local motorists calling on Killarney Municipal District and elected representatives to take immediate action.
Early morning traffic coming from the Tralee side has become severely backed up past BG Motors during the peak 8.15am commute.
Motorists attempting to enter the bypass from the Coolcorcoran side face long queues and increasing frustration as they struggle to join the main road.
Local drivers point to a specific design issue at the exit, where a raised kerb and a section of unused footpath prevent left-turning vehicles from merging smoothly into the traffic flow.
Road users are requesting a simple layout modification to resolve the bottleneck: converting the exit to left-turn only, removing the kerb obstruction, and directing driver traffic to loop via a U-turn at the Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre roundabout. Similar left-turn measures were previously implemented at the nearby Lewis Road junction to improve safety and traffic flow.
The request comes as broader plans for the N22 bypass upgrade and new link road infrastructure remain under progression by Kerry County Council and Transport Infrastructure Ireland.
Motorists wishing to share their views on local road issues can email info@killarneyadvertiser.ie.
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